‘Til Love Do Us Part: 5 Things To Know About The Show Before You Go (2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL)

Five Questions. Five Answers. And One Big Decision: Rock, Paper, Or Scissors?

‘Til Love Do Us Part

High Frequency Theatre

A graveyard. Two funerals. Two strangers. Grief. An escape. And a mysterious young girl. Oddities of darkness and light come alive through intense emotion and intimacy.

Show Times:

Wed 2/22 @6:00pm

Fri 2/24 @ 10:30pm

Sun 2/26 @ 5:30pm

Thu 3/1 @ 9:00pm

Sat 3/3 @ 4:00pm

Answers by Andrew Hall

(Playwright)

Karen Tortora-Lee’s Question
That’s some title. How did you come up with it – and what does it mean?Andrew: The title, ‘Til Love Do Us Part, comes from the legendary phrase commonly used in marriage ceremonies: ‘Til Death Do Us Part. A friend of mine read the play, which at the time was entitled The Eulogy of an Endless Marriage. She hated the title. She began to make countless suggestions. And then she said it. She meant to say it should be retitled ‘Til Death Do Us Part, but she accidentally said “Love” instead of “Death.” And it made so much sense to me. The play on words has become a dark symbol of the love/hate relationship the audience watches develop over time.

Diánna Martin’s QuestionIf you were going to invite five people, anyone from past and present, to see your FRIGID show – who would you invite and why?Andrew: I would have to say 1) Stephen Sondheim – my musical theatre aspirations have led to the development of the play’s dissonant musical underscore. He would appreciate it. 2) Tim Burton – my love of dark quirky characters with such specific attention to detail has led to very specific detail in the script of this play. 3) Edward Albee – my understanding and obsession with complex love/hate relationships begins in my personal life and then extends into theater with plays such as “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” Only then could I appreciate the absurdity of it all. 4) Edgar Allan Poe – of course I would want the father of dark stories and characters to be in the audience, and 5) Charles Addams – if anyone would understand what I’m trying to accomplish with the characters in this play, it would be him.

Antonio Minino’s QuestionWhat is the biggest sacrifice you’ve ever made for your Art and was it worth it?Andrew: The biggest sacrifice I’ve ever made for my art was in an unusual way the main reason I wrote this play. I eventually had to choose between my art and what I thought at the time to be true love. I chose art. I had to write this play about giving up everything for love to make myself understand and move on. I am hoping that when I sit in Under St. Marks Theater watching ‘Til Love Do Us Part with its first real audience, I will smile with the reaffirmed knowledge that it was all worth it.

Geoffrey Paddy Johnson’s QuestionWas there any unexpected discovery made during the development of this production and, if so, can you share it?Andrew: Besides finally understanding why playwrights drink? … But seriously, I can’t think of any specific discoveries. I wish I could share one.

Michelle Augello-Page’s QuestionWhat do you hope the audience receives from the experience of seeing this show?Andrew: In an ideal world, I hope that through the theatricality, the music, and the intimate dramatic scenes, the audience will take part in the seventy-year relationship they see before them. Love. Hate. Death. And from that (to answer the question), I believe a deeper meaning will come. I will say this: I ask a lot of the audience in this show, but I think those who take the journey will find it worthwhile. I definitely did.

Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH

THM Bonus Question – We’re serious this year!
In the THM virtual Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH which FRIGID Show do you take on? And what do you throw?

Andrew: …

Huh. Looks like Andrew “parted” before we were done! Well that’s why we invented the Randomizer … so that we don’t have to stand here staring blankly into space in the Rock Paper Scissors Arena with no big final Ta-daaaa Moment. So … Here we go! Flippity Flip … we randomly choose PAPER! And one more spin to determine your opponent … it lands on … Little Ladywho threw SCISSORS. Bam! Pow! That’s a direct HIT and one strike against you in the Tournament of Deaaaaath! So far I’m betting you’re happy that you “cut out” early (wah – wahhhh).

Round three isInitium/Finiswho also challenged everyone and threw ROCK … another WIN!

Congratulations, Andrew – that makes 2 victories out of 3 rounds! Not bad for someone who was nowhere to be found. Sneaky, sneaky!

Thanks ‘Til Love Do Us Part for participating in The Happiest Medium’s FRIGID New York Festival 2012 Q&A. And for playing our game! You’re officially PAPER in any and all challenges. You may win, you may not – who knows! This is how it works in the crazy world of the Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament of DEAAAAATH!

The 2012 FRIGID NEW YORK FESTIVAL will run February 22-March 4 at The Kraine Theater & The Red Room (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery) and UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Ave and Ave A). Tickets to all shows may be purchased online at www.FRIGIDnewyork.info or by calling Smarttix at 212-868-4444.